The second expanded meeting of the Syrian opposition began in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday with the attendance of a broad array of Arab and foreign diplomats.

President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif delivered a speech at the opening of the conference in which he reaffirmed commitment to the fundamental principles of the Syrian Revolution and the sacrifices the Syrian people are making to regain freedom and dignity.

"The calamities afflicting the Syrian people are much greater than thinking of Bashar al-Assad,” Seif said. He stressed that “there must be no role for Assad in the transitional phase or in the future of Syria. This view is supported by at least half of the Syrian people.”

Seif pointed out that the people of eastern Ghouta are dying of hunger despite the issuance of international resolutions calling for stopping the bombardment, allowing full humanitarian access, and the release of detainees. The Syrian opposition only demands that these resolutions are implemented in full, Seif said.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir told representatives of the Syrian opposition meeting on Wednesday that the only solution to the crisis in Syria was through a consensus that would achieve the demands of the Syrian people and put an end to their suffering on the basis of Geneva 1 Communique and UN Security Council resolution 2254.

The conference brought together all spectra of the Syrian opposition and is expected to conclude on Thursday with the issuance of final communiqué defining the Syrian opposition’s guidelines for negotiations. A new round of talks in Geneva will begin on November 28, according to the UN Special envoy Staffan de Mistura. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)